Curtain



BASSASB Sept. lS l923..

F. H. ZACKOVV CURTAIN Filed OCJL. 4, 1921 FRANK H. ZACKOW, 0F TAC0MA, WSHENGIN.

CURTAIN.

Application tiled October e, 1921.

To all rwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, FRANK H. ZAoxoW, a citizen of the United States and a resident of the city of Tacoma, county of Pierce, State'of l/Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtains, of which the following -is a specification.

rl`his invention relates to improvements 1n curtains, and more particularly to collapsible and extendible curtains that are adapted to be used acro window openings, doorways, as partitions. and in Fact at all places where curtains can ordinarily be used.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a curtain that will be attractive 1n appearance, which may be moved easily from or into extended position, which will be durable and eiective in its use and will have a certain rigidity that is not possible in fabric curtains.

More specifically stated, it is the object of the invention to provide a curtain of the above described character comprising a plurality of co-operatively arranged, coextensive panels, suspended by means of rollers that are operable along a track or guideway across the opening for which the curtain is adapted, and which 'are connected by foldable'connections which retain the panels in proper relation when drawn or extended and which permits them to be moved to nested, superimposed relation at the side of the opening when the curtain is not in use.

Another object of the invention resides in the detailed construction of the connecting links and guide rails whereby the proper relation ofthe panels is maintained, and which provides for easy and successful operation of the device.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window equippedwith a curtain constructed according to the present invention; showing the curtain extended.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional detail view, illustrating the means and manner of suspending the panels of the curtain.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the connection of a set of panel connecting links.

Fig. 4 is `an end view of the members shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5is a sectional view through the ourerial No. 505,226.

tain on a horizontal plane, showing the over- 1 designates the head piece across the top of a window frame or the like, to which are fixed in parallel. spaced relation two horizontal rails 2 and 3. At one side of the frame these have their ends in vertical alinement while at the other side the lower rail terminates at a little distance within the extent ci' the other.

ln the preferred construction each rail comprises a vertical back portion 4L- through which screws or nails may be extended to secure it to the frame, and a horizontally extending base plate 5 having an upturned edge 5 within which the supporting members for the curtain may operate. The lower of these flanges 5', for a purpose presently apparent, extends farther than that of the upper flange.

The curtain proper is made .up 'of a plurality of elongated panels 10 that are sus pended individually by means of hangers 11 which at their lower ends are secured to transverse bars 12 across the upper ends of the panels and, at their upper ends have inwardly extendinY pins 14: fixed therein on which small ro 1ers 15 are mounted for trafel along the guideiange of the upper rai 2.

When the curtain is extended the panels just slightly overlap each other, as is shown 1n Fig. 5, and when the curtain is not in use, they are disposed at one side of the window in superimposed relation. In order that they may retain the proper relation when extended, have connected the pins 14 of adjacent hangers by sets of toggle links 16 and 16. These have their outer ends pivotally iixed to the pins 11 and their inner ends cut on a bevel and pivotally ixed together in abutment whereby they are revented from being horizontally alined an whereby they are caused to fold downwardly when the curtain is collapsed.

ln order that the curtain may be drawn properly to and from extended position, E prefer to hx the inner panel, that being the one at the left in Fig. 1, against movement, and have attached cords 21 and 22 to the hanger of the outer panel which extend over pulleys 23 at opposite ends of the head piece 1 and then depend to such osition that they may be easily reached. y drawin downwardly on the cord 22 the curtain wi be extended and b drawing on the cord 21 it will be retracted).

To revent collapsing of the anels of an exten ed part ot the curtain, l ave provided the rail 3 which is spaced just suliiciently from the rail 2 that the sets of toggle links will pass over its ange 5 which will revent downward folding of the links so ong as they engage this flange. By having the rail 3 terminate at some distance within the end of the rail 2, as shown in Fig. 6, it is apparent that when the curtain is collapsed, the toggle links will successively drop from that end of the rail and are then ermitted to fold together. This ermits t e stacking of the panels at the side of the window frame.

To enhance the appearance of the device, I have provided a cover plate for the upper end of the panels and the supporting mechanism which is secured to the frame by means of brackets 31 at its opposite ends. Preferably the anels would be made of art glass suitably rained and connected across their lower ends by means of a flexible member 25 for decorative purpose, but is not intended that they be limited to this material as it is apparent that they could likewise be made of wood, ber, asbestos sheets, paper or fabric without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention.

Such a curtain would be very attractive in appearance and could be put to many uses as an ornamental feature.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

l. A curtain oi' the class described comprising in combination, a horizontal supportlng rail, a plurality of cooperatin curtain forming panels, a han er for eac of the panels, a supporting ro ler for each han er operable along the rail, a air of pivota ly connected downwardly folldable links connecting the hangers of adjacent panels, means attached to the hanger of the panel at the extendible end of the curtain for moving it outwardly along the rail to cause the other panels to follow successively and for moving the panels inwardly along the rail and means for preventing the collapsing of the hanger connecting links within any extended portion of the curtain.

2. A curtain of the class, described comprising in combination with a window frame, a horizontal supporting rail iixed across the said frame, a plurality of co-operating curtain forming panels, a hanger for each of the panels, a roller for each of the hangers operable along the rail, a pair of downwardly foldable pivotally connected links joining the hangers of adgacent panels whereby the spacing of the panels when the curtain is extended is limited, cords fixed to the hanger of the outer panel for actuating it outwar ly or inwardly along the rail to ef- :lect the extending or collapsing of the curtain and a rail fixed to the frame beneath the first named rail and having a flange extending therefrom against which said downwardly foldable connecting links for the hangers engage to prevent their collapsing within any extended part of the curtain.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the said downwardly foldable connecting links for the hangers have their pivotally connected ends rovided with beveled abutting surfaces w ereby said links are prevented from moving into alinement and downward breaking at the joint is eli'ected.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 29th day of September, 1921.

v FRANK H. ZACKW. 

